Folding container with slip-in veneers



Nov. 14, 1961 M. B. ROYCE FOLDING CONTAINER WITH SLIP-IN VENEERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 195

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Nov. 14, 1961 M. B. ROYCE 3,008,624

FOLDING CONTAINER WITH SLIP-IN VENEERS Filed Dec. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- I/VVENTOR.

MARK B. ROYCE United States Patent 3,008,624 FOLDING (ZONTAINER WITH. SLIP-IN VENEERS Mark B. Royce, Hohokus, N.J., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 777,620 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) The invention relates to the construction of shipping containers made of corrugated fibreboard and the like and having wood veneer panels forming slatted sides. This type of container is useful, for example, in shipping fruits and vegetables, the slatted wood veneer panels aitording strength and good ventilation, and the corrugated fibreboard container body being smooth and free of the rough projections found in ordinary wood crates.

My invention is concerned particularly with the pro vision of improved means for holding the wood veneer panels in the container body so that the panels need not be built into the box but can be slipped into place by the packer and still be held eifectively and securely during loading of the container. Thus the container body, which is made of corrugated fibreboard, solid fibreboard, etc., can be of the kind which folds flat for shipment by the boxmaker to the packer.

My improved shipping container comprises a rectangular box of fibreboard (corrugated or solid) and the like having at least one of its side walls cut open over a substantial area, a wood veneer panel fitted inside such Wall and ex tending across the open area thereof, and special positioning means for the wood veneer panel. This positioning means comprises tabs hinged to the end walls of the box along fold lines spaced from the corners of the box. The tabs extend inwardly of the end walls for engagement with the ends of the wood veneer panel. By spacing the fold lines of the tabs from the corners by a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the wood veneer panel, the tabs can be made to extend diagonally across the corners of the box so as to toe in against the ends of the panel. Then if the wood veneer panel is formed with shoulders inside its ends, the ends of the diagonally extending tabs can be arranged to snap into positions behind such shoulders. This looks the tabs in place and the tabs in turn lock the panel in place.

FIG. 1 shows a cut and scored blank for a corrugated paperboard container made according to my invention.

FIG. 2 shows a wood veneer panel therefor.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the completed container.

FIG. 4 is a detail cross sectional view of the positioning means for the wood veneer panel.

FIG. 5 is a similar detail view showing a locking construction for such positioning means.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a modified container.

In its preferred form my container comprises a rectangular box 1 of corrugated fibreboard and the like having at least one of its side walls cut open over a substantial area as at 2, a slatted wood veneer panel 3 fitted in side such wall and extending across the open area thereof, and special positioning means for the wood veneer panel. This positioning means comprises tabs 4 hinged to the end walls of the box along fold lines 5 spaced from the corners of the box. The tabs extend inwardly of the end walls for engagement with the ends of the wood veneer panel to hold the latter in position across the open area of the side wall during loading of the container.

The fold lines 5 of the tabs are preferably spaced from the corners of the box by a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the wood veneer panel and the tabs extend diagonally across the corners of the box so as to toe in against the ends of the wood veneer panel (see FIG. 4). By springing the tabs out to right angles from the end walls a wide clearance is provided to make it easy to insert the panel. But the tabs then tend to spring back into engagement with the panel, pressing the panel lightly against the side of the box to hold the panel from tilting inwardly during loading of the container. This action is the more efiective by reason of the fact that the tabs are located in the upper part of the box. Once the container is fully packed, the contents hold the panel or panels in place.

According to the special construction shown in FIG. 5, the wood veneer panel is formed with shoulders 6 inside its ends and the ends of the tabs 4 snap into position behind the shoulders so that the tabs are locked in place by the panel and the panel is in turn locked in place by the tabs.

In the construction shown in FIG. 6, the box is open at the top and provided with a telescoping cover having an open area 7 in at least one of its sides aligned with the open area 2 of the box. With the cover in place, the ends of the wood veneer panel are disposed between the positioning tabs 4 and juxtaposed portions of the sides of the box and cover, and the cover reinforces the box in respect of supporting the wood veneer panel around its marginal portions.

The general construction of the fibreboard box may be varied as desired, the slotted container blank shown in FIG. 1 being shown as representative of one form which is entirely conventional insofar as concerns a knock down container with two pairs of flaps at the bottom and also at the top. (In the FIG. 6 construction the top flaps have been omitted.) Also, suitable handles may be provided if desired and have been shown in the drawings, but as such details are not comprised in the present invention they will not be described here.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, and I have no intention of excluding such equivalents of the invention described as fall within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A shipping container comprising a rectangular box of fibreboard and the like having at least one of its side walls cut open over a substantial area, a flat wood veneer panel fitted inside such wall and extending across the open area thereof, and means positioning said panel against said side wall, said positioning means comprising tabs hinged to the end walls of the box along vertical fold lines spaced from the corners of the box by a distance substantially greater than the. thickness of said panel, said tabs extending inwardly of said box end walls diagonally across the corners of the box and having only their ends engaging the inside surfaces of said panel, the ends of said tabs being toed in against and holding said panel in position across the open area of said side wall, whereby the tabs when flexed away from their engagement with said veneer panel will present a substantial clearance between the inside surface of said panel and corresponding tabs to facilitate easy insertion and withdrawal of said panel when desired.

2. A shipping container comprising a rectangular box of fibreboard and the like having at least one of its side walls cut open over a substantial area, a flat wood veneer panel having vertical shoulders inside its ends fitted inside such wall and extending across the open area thereof, and means positioning said panel against said side wall, said positioning means comprising tabs hinged to the end walls of the box along vertical fold lines spaced from the corners of the box by a distance substantially greater than the thickness of said panel, said tabs extending inwardly of said box end walls diagonally across the corners of the box and having only their ends engaging the inside surfaces of said panel the ends of said tabs being toed in against and holding said panel in position across the open area of said side wall, whereby the tabs when flexed away from their engagement with said veneer panel will present a substantial clearance between the inside surface of said panel and corresponding tabs to facilitate easy insertion and withdrawal of said panel when desired, said ends of the diagonally extending tabs being constructed and arranged to snap into positions behind said shoulders so that the tabs are locked in place by said panel and the latter is in turn locked in place by said tabs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

